| Title | End-of-life communication: ethnic differences between Korean American and non-Hispanic White older adults |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2009 |
| Authors | Ko, E, Lee, J |
| Journal | J Aging HealthJ Aging Health |
| Volume | 21 |
| Pagination | 967-84 |
| Date Published | Oct |
| ISBN Number | 0898-2643 (Print)<br/>0898-2643 (Linking) |
| Accession Number | 19773596 |
| Keywords | Advance Care Planning, Advance Directives/ ethnology, Aged, Aged, 80 and Over, Asian Americans, Communication, Culture, Demography, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Status, Humans, Korea/ethnology, Male, Socioeconomic Factors, United States |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: This study examined ethnic differences in end-of-life communication between Korean American and non-Hispanic White older adults using the Health Belief Model as a conceptual framework. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was employed to survey 217 community-dwelling older adults (112 Korean Americans and 105 Non-Hispanic Whites). RESULTS: Half of the participants had never held end-of-life discussions with significant others. Non-Hispanic Whites were more likely to engage in end-of-life communication than Korean Americans, but the ethnicity effect was not evident in a multivariate analysis. Only participants' knowledge, perceived barriers, perceived severity, and experience of illness significantly predicted the likelihood of the end-of-life communication. Higher knowledge, stronger beliefs about the perceived severity and barriers, and greater experience of illness were related to having end-of-life communication. DISCUSSION: Knowledge and health beliefs play an important role in end-of-life communication which differs by ethnicity. Culturally competent health care practitioners need to consider ethnic variation in advance care planning. |
Ethno Med: